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Entering the Thrash Zone

Tools

There are some bands that like to leave a certain amount of mystery to their name, creating some sort of mystery about what they may or may not sound like. Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (D.R.I.) are not one of those bands.

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Since perfecting the "Crossover Thrash" sound back in the early 1980s and being a huge influence on everyone from Suicidal Tendencies to Megadeth, D.R.I. have become one of the few bands that all metal heads can agree on. Combining breakneck-speed guitar work with insane vocals and anti-everything album artwork, D.R.I. is pretty much the sonic embodiment of skateboarding and drinking beer. And although the band has been around since 1982, the beer-soaked members of D.R.I. still rip through insanely long set lists, sometimes playing for well over an hour.

Keep in mind this is a band whose songs rarely go over the two-minute mark. Local promoter Tyler Miller, who books under the name Memphis Punk Promotions, admitted that this was the biggest show that he's booked, but that when he had the opportunity to bring the legendary Texas band to Memphis, he couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Also playing on Thursday are Memphis metal legends Evil Army, a band that rarely plays locally in between full United States tours. The pairing of Evil Army and D.R.I. is pretty much what metal heads dream about. It'll provide an opportunity for local show goers to see a legendary thrash metal band (D.R.I.) that has reached "sacred ground status" paired with a band that tons of metal critics consider one of the best kept secrets of the genre (Evil Army). — Chris Shaw

D.R.I. plays with Evil Army, Dawn Patrol, and Lucha & the Flatspots at the Hi-Tone on Thursday, September 11th, at 8 p.m. $14.